Joseph Kurup
| Yang Berhormat Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Joseph Kurup MP | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minister in the Prime Minister's Department | |
|
Assumed office 16 May 2013 | |
| Prime Minister | Najib Razak |
| Constituency | Pensiangan |
| Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Pensiangan, Sabah | |
|
Assumed office 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Bernard Maraat (PBRS—BN) |
| Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment | |
|
In office 3 April 2008 – 5 May 2013 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
15 December 1944 Pensiangan, Keningau, North Borneo |
| Political party | PBRS–Barisan Nasional |
| Spouse(s) | Melinda Mak Soak Fong |
| Children |
Arthur Joseph Kurup Brian Joseph Kurup Kevin Joseph Kurup |
| Occupation | Politician |
Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Joseph Kurup (born 15 December 1944) is a Malaysian politician. He is the Member of the Parliament of Malaysia for the Pensiangan constituency in Sabah and a Minister in the Department of Prime Minister Najib Razak. He is the founder and President of the United Sabah People's Party (PBRS) in the Barisan Nasional coalition.
Sabah state politics (1985–2008)
Kurup was a member of the United Sabah Party (PBS) when it was founded in 1985. In the 1985 election he won the seat of Sook in the Sabah State Legislative Assembly, and the PBS, led by Joseph Pairin Kitingan, toppled the Barisan Nasional government. Over the following nine years, Kurup served as a minister in Kitingan's government.[1]
In 1994, Kitingan's government came to an end after a series of defections from the PBS to Barisan Nasional. Kurup was one of the leaders of the defectors, setting up the PBRS, gaining admission for the new party to Barisan Nasional, and winning appointment as Deputy Chief Minister in the new Barisan Nasional state government. In 1999, Kurup faced his first electoral test since the defection, and suffered a double defeat: he ran against Kitingan in the federal seat of Keningau, and lost, and was also defeated by Kitingan's brother Jeffrey for the State Assembly seat of Bingkor. It was not until 2004, after the PBS had also joined Barisan Nasional, that Kurup returned to an elected position, winning back the State Assembly seat of Sook. Meanwhile, in 2002, he had been challenged for the PBRS presidency by Jeffrey Kitingan, and survived after a decision by the Registrar of Societies. Jeffrey had left PBS to join PBRS in 1999.[2]
Federal politics (2008–present)
Kurup was elected to the federal Parliament in the 2008 election, giving up his State Assembly seat to replace PBRS Secretary-General Bernard Maraat as the party's candidate in the seat of Pensiangan.[3][4] He was elected unopposed after the People's Justice Party (PKR) candidate had been unable to submit his nomination on time. PKR challenged Kurup's election in court, but Kurup prevailed.[5] After his election, Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi appointed Kurup as Deputy Minister for Rural and Regional Development. He shifted to Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Environment when Najib Razak became Prime Minister in 2009. After defending his seat in the 2013 election, he was promoted to Cabinet, as Minister in the Prime Minister's Department.[6][7]
References
- ↑ "Kurup dares Pairin to debate". New Sabah Times. 23 January 2009. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
- ↑ Political Handbook of the World 2014. CQ Press. 891.
- ↑ "The Kurup and Jeffrey showdown may not happen". Daily Express (Malaysia). 15 February 2008. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
- ↑ "Good Showing By Sabah BN's New Faces in General Election". Berita Wilayah. Bernama. 9 March 2008. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
- ↑ "Election Petition Nullified, Kurup Now Focuses on Helping Pensiangan People". Bernama. 13 March 2008. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
- ↑ Ruben Sario."GE13: Joseph Kurup out to win with message of development for rural Pensiangan", The Star, 3 May 2013. Retrieved on 16 May 2013.
- ↑ News."Joseph Kurup wins Pensiangan seat",The Star, 24 February 2013. Retrieved on 17 May 2013.
